Store front framing system

ABSTRACT

A system of standardized extrusions which may be utilized in framing systems for enclosing a wide variety of store front openings as well as other types of building wall openings. Each of the basic framing elements includes either a special gasket receiving flange or a spline receiving channel for cooperation with elastomeric panel mounting gaskets in sealing by retaining thin rigid construction panels in a desired mounted position. The system includes frame member elements for forming the framing system sills and jambs, divider elements for forming horizontal or vertical mullion structural members and adaptor clips for permitting various sizes of gaskets and glass panel combinations to be used with the system without the necessity for altering the dimension of the framing elements or the panel receiving flanges.

llllllfl States atent 1 Sarvay [54] STORE FRONT FRAMING SYSTEM [75] Inventor: J. Thomas Sarvay, Lakewood, Ohio v [73] The Standard Products Company,

Cleveland, Ohio Filed: Sept. 24, 1971 Appl. No.: 183,449

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 878,465, Nov. 20, 1969, abandoned.

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Michaels ..52/282 Stahl ..52/475 X Bush ..52/208 X 11 3,732,658 [451 May 15, 1973 Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr. Attorney- Meyer, Tilberry & Body [5 7] ABSTRACT A system of standardized extrusions which may be utilized in framing systems for enclosing a wide variety of store front openings as well as other types of build ing wall openings. Each of the basic framing elements includes either a special gasket receiving flange or a spline receiving channel for cooperation with elastomeric panel mounting gaskets in sealing by retaining thin rigid construction panels in a desired mounted position. The system includes frame member elements for forming the framing system sills and jambs, divider elements for forming horizontal or vertical mullion structural members and adaptor clips for permitting various sizes of gaskets and glass panel combinations to be used with the system without the necessity for altering the dimension of the framing elements or the panel receiving flanges.

16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENMMYI 3,732,658

SHEET 1 OF 2 VE N TOR. J. THOM SARVAY ATTORNEYS.

PATENTED MY 1 5l973 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. 202 J. THOMAS SARVAY 30%; ATTORNEYS.

STORE FRONT FRAMING SYSTEM This application is a continuation-in-part application of parent application Ser. No. 878,465, filed Nov. 20, 1969 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to the field of framing systems and, more particularly, to a system in which a combination of standardized framing elements, gaskets and thin rigid construction panels are employed to enclose a building wall opening or the like.

The invention is particularly applicable for use as a store front framing system and will be described with particular reference thereto; however, it will be apprec iated that the invention has broader applications and may be used with any type of building wall opening or the like where it is desired to use standardized components in order to effect enclosure.

Framing systems which employ extruded structural members of a great variety of designs have been employed for an equally wide variety of .architecturaluses. These uses may range, for'example, from a curtain wall construction for high-rise office buildings, to doorways, entrances and windows in office buildings, and to store fronts. In the majority of these applications, the extruded structural members are used in combination with elastomeric panel mounting gaskets in order to mount and seal thin rigid construction panels in a desired position relative to an opening. Typically, the extrusions used in these various applications are custom designed for the particular unit being constructed, although some standard extrusions may be commercially available. Many times, special gaskets must also be designed for the particular installation in order to accomplish specific extrusion designs.

In the case of large office buildings, designing and obtaining delivery of the particular extrusions, gaskets and construction panels present no special problems since suppliers of these components often are willing to devote considerable time and expense to working directly with the architect and contractors of the builder in order to provide exactly what is desired. However, in the case of the small contractors who may be building small office buildings or renovating store fronts or otherwise modifying existing buildings, an entirely different situation exists. In these cases, it becomes a rather substantial problem for the contractor to obtain the requisite extruded structural members since, in many cases, the only extrusions commercially available were previously developed for specific jobs and are not sufficient to satisfy his needs. Moreover, it has been found not to be unusual that a manufacturer either will not sell a particular extrusion for general useor cannot make delivery within a specified time. Still further, and even when the necessary extruded structural members are located, the necessary cooperating panel mounting gaskets must be secured in order to complete the desired structure.

The present invention contemplates a new standardized framing system which overcomes all of the above referred problems and others and others and provides a framing system and components therefor which may be stocked in standard architectural lengths and which may be used with commercially available panel mounting gasket members in a wide variety of framing environments.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved framing system for a building wall opening or the like wherein a plurality of elongated rigid structural elements are received about the opening in order to form an opening frame. The structural elements include means for receiving elastomeric panel mounting gaskets which in turn sealingly mount thin rigid construction panels relative to the opening. In the improvement, the elongated structural elements comprise hollow generally rectangular elements wherein one side of each element forms an element mounting surface for engagement with the opening. The elements further include means for receiving one of the elastomeric panel mounting gasket members longitudinally therealong on another side thereof.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the improved system includes divider elements for dividing the opening into a plurality of smaller openings. The divider elements include means for receiving panel mounting mullion gaskets thereon.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adaptor clip which may be used to adapt the system for use with a variety of different sizes of panel mounting gaskets.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a new rigid structural element for use in establishing a frame around a building wall opening or the like.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a new structural divider element for use as a horizontal or vertical mullion structural member to divide a building wall opening or the like into a plurality of smaller openings.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adaptor clip for use in adapting a framing system comprised of standardized framing components to use with various sizes of commercially available panel mounting gaskets.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of an improved building wall opening framing system which utilizes a minimum number of different framing components.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved building wall opening framing system which is readily adaptable to substantially all situations wherein it is desired to enclose a building wall opening or the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved building wall opening framing system which is inexpensive to employ.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved building wall opening framing system which is adaptable to use with a plurality of panel mounting gasket sizes.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new rigid framing element for use as sills and jambs in a building wall opening framing system.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a new rigid divider element for use as horizontal and vertical mullion structural members in a building wall opening framing system.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of a new adaptor clip for adapting a building wall opening framing system to use with various sizes of elastomeric panel mounting gaskets.

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a store front employing the concepts of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded alternative embodiment of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 55 in FIG. 1 and showing a second embodiment from the structure shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows use of an alternative jamb structure adjacent a door installation; and,

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 7-7 in FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, the FIGURES show a building wall A having a store front framing system B disposed in an opening therein which system includes a plurality of similarly constructed bays C.

The framing system is comprised of a plurality of structural sill members 10, structural jamb members 12, horizontal structural mullion members 14 and vertical structural mullion members 16. These structural members may be comprised of any suitable construction material and, in the preferred embodiment, they are elongated aluminum extrusions. It should be noted that members 10,12 and 14,16 are identical to each other as will hereinafter become apparent and their relative positions within the system determine their classification. Mounted within the framing system are a plurality of glass window panels 18, although other thin relatively rigid construction panels could be utilized is desired. Building wall A includes an opening of slightly larger dimensions than the total dimensional characteristics of bays C for reasons which will hereinafter become apparent and the opening further includes wall surfaces 20 which extend therearound generally normal to the plane of the opening itself.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, a cross sectional view of a structural jamb member 12 is there shown, it being understood that the structural sill members 10 are identical thereto. Member 12 includes a generally flat base or mounting surface 30, a pair of upstanding parallel side walls 32,34 and front wall portions 36,38 spaced from and generallyparallel to base or mounting surface 30. Disposed to extend outwardly from front wall portion 38 is a panel mounting gasket receiving flange generally designated 40. This flange extends longitudinally along the length of the structural member and is comprised of a pair of spaced apart legs 42,44 having a longitudinal slot or channel 46 extending therebetween. The spacing oflegs 42,44 is carefully selected so that the overall transverse dimension of the mounting flange corresponds to the dimension of a panel mounting gasket mounting channel in a standard panel mounting and sealing gasket. These gaskets have a generally H-shaped cross section and may be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,965. Other forms of gaskets with which the framing system disclosed herein may be employed are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,213,584 and 3,416,279 all of which are assigned to the assignee herein.

Front wall portion 36 includes an end area 48 and front wall portion 38 includes an end portion 50 which define an open channel generally designated 52 therebetween. This channel permits access into the inside of the structural member for fastening it to wall 20 as will hereinafter become more fully apparent with reference to installation of the system. Spaced around the inside of the jamb member are a plurality of fastener chases 54, as are shown in the art, for use in fabricating the frame as will hereinafter be more fully described. A cover plate 60, also extruded from aluminum, is provided to longitudinally span channel 52. The cover plate includes a pair of parallel resilient side walls 62,64 dimensioned to be disposed between end 48 and inwardly extending lip 66 disposed at end 50. Each of resilient side walls 62,64 also includes an outwardly extending edge adapted to closely engage end 48 and lip 66; however, it will be appreciated that other means for selectively enclosing channel 52 may be employed.

Referring now to FIG. 3, description will hereinafter be made with reference to one of the vertical structural mullion members 16, it being understood that the horizontal structural mullion members 14 are identical hereto. Further, like elements from the above described structural jamb member 12 will bear like numerals in the following description. The vertical structural mullion member is comprised of two U-shaped interfitting channel members generally designated 70,72. Channel member 70 includes a bottom wall 74 and a pair of spaced apart side walls 76,78 at the lateral ends thereof. Similarly, channel 72 includes a bottom wall portion and spaced apart side walls 82,84 disposed along the lateral edges thereof. Side walls 82,84 include interfitting portions 86,88 respectively which coact with side walls 76,78 to provide the desired interfitting relationship between the two U-shaped channels. Channels 70,72 further include panel mounting gasket receiving flanges 40 as hereinabove described. The flanges on channels 70,72 extend outwardly from the vertical structural mullion member 16 in opposite directions from each other. Further, fastener chases 54 are conveniently disposed along the inside of the channels to provide convenient fastening means.

The elongated panel mounting gaskets used with the invention are generally designated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and include a longitudinally extending panel mounting channel 92, elongated gasket mounting channel 94 and cross web 96. In use, and once the gasket and panels 18 are in position, an elastomeric locking strip 98 is disposed in a receiving channel in the panel mounting gasket so as to bias the side walls of channels 92,94 into a close fitting sealing relationship with their panels 18 and receiving flanges 40. Again, the use of this type of gasket member is well known.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, description will hereinafter be made to use of the structural members described with detailed reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. It is most advantageous to first fabricate the frame members for each of the three bays C which are to be employed. The frame for the bay shown in the left-hand side of FIG. 1 has sides comprised of a structural jamb member 12 and U-shaped channel 70 with structural sill members 10 extending therebetween at the end points thereof. Also extending laterally between jamb member 12 and channel 70 is a horizontal structural mullion member 14 which, as hereinabove stated, is comprised of the interfitting U-shaped channels 70,72 identical with that disclosed with reference to vertical structural mullion member 16. These rigid structural members are all affixed to each other by means of screws passing through mating fastener chases 54 at the respective frame joints. Again, this type of assembly is known in the art.

The middle bay C has sides comprised of U-shaped channels 72,70 with structural sill members extending therebetween at the top and bottom ends. Also extending transversely between the channels is a horizontal structural mullion member 14 and this bay is likewise assembled through the use of elongated screws passing through mating fastener chases 54.

Finally, the bay shown on the right-hand side of FIG. 1 has sides comprised of a U-shaped channel 72 and a structural jamb member 12 with structural sill members 10 extending therebetween at the end points thereof. This bay also includes a horizontal structural mullion member 14 and is assembled identical with the others. The bays are dimensioned so that the length and heighth of the building wall opening with which the store front framing system is to be utilized is slightly longer and higher than their heighth and combined interfitting length, the reasons for which will hereinafter become more fully apparent.

Each bay is disposed in the desired position relative to the opening with channel 70 on the first or left bay interfitting with channel 72 of the second or middle bay and channel 70 of the second or middle bay interfitting with channel 72 of the third or right bay. The slight additional length and heighth required in the building wall opening is to provide the necessary clearance so that the U-shaped channels 70,72 of the two vertical structural mullion members 16 may be properly interfitted with each other at assembly of the bays into the opening. To fill the gap between building walls 20 and base or mounting surfaces 30 of .the structural sill and jamb members 10,12, shims (FIG. 2) such as, for example, angled wooden members 104, are driven into the gap around the entire opening. These shims then tightly center the framing system in position within the opening and a suitable gasket material 106 comprised of a generally elastomeric material is disposed between walls 20 and base or mounting surfaces 30 to protect the installation from outside elements. Finally, a mastic sealant 108 may be placed outside the sealing gaskets and between walls 20 and base or mounting surfaces 30 to complete the installation. Elastomeric gaskets 106 and putty 108 are conventional in the art. A tape sealant 110 (FIG. 3) of a type known in the art may be placed at least between interfitting surfaces 70,88 and, if desired, also between interfitting surfaces 76,86. Depending upon the exact type of tape sealant employed, it may be made advantageous to place it between the channels during assembly of the bays into the building wall opening.

To assure that the entire framing system, comprised of the three bays, remains in a rigid position relative to the opening, elongated screws (not shown) may be passed through base or mounting surfaces 30 and into the building itself at surfaces 20. In the preferred embodiment, the screws pass through the generally centrally located fastening chase 54 on the inside of base or mounting surface 30. For this, cover plate 60 is merely removed from its covering position between walls 36,38 to expose channel 52 and provide easy access to the inside of the structural member. A plurality of these screws may be spaced along all the sill and jamb structural members as dictated by specific design criteria for the framing system. Similarly, and to add further rigidity, angle members (not shown) may be disposed to extend between wall surfaces 20 and the inside of the vertical structural mullion members 16. Once the framing system is position within and affixed to the building wall opening, cover plates 60 may be reinstalled to cover excess channel 52 and the panel mounting and sealing gaskets and panels 18 may be installed as is conventional. It will be appreciated that the above described specific bay configuration and overall configuration is only exemplary and any desired combination of structural sill and jamb members, vertical structural mullion members and horizontal structural mullion members may be employed as desired to fulfill specific design requirements.

The panel receiving flange 40 as hereinabove described provides an entirely satisfactory means for mounting construction panels and gaskets of a given standard dimension. However, it is oftentimes desired to use standard gasket sizes having correspondingly different sized panel mounting channels 92 and gasket mounting channels 94. Such is the case where it is desired to utilize panels 18 which are of an insulating type or have dual thicknesses. To permit use of the above described framing system, an additional element shown in FIG. is employed. In FIG. 4, the same structural jamb member 12 as shown in FIG. 2 is utilized in combination with a panel mounting gasket 90 having enlarged panel mounting channel 92' and panel mounting channel 94'. The use of this enlarged gasket remains the same as hereinabove described relative to gasket 90. However, it is necessary to utilize an adaptor clip therewith. As shown in FIG. 4, this clip comprises an elongated hollow box-shaped extrusion having side walls 122,124, 126,128 and 130. Adjacent walls 128,130, however, do not cooperate to form a closed side, but rather, are separated to permit mounting of the clip relative to receiving flange 40. Side walls 128,130 are laterally separated and side wall is dimensioned to be closely received in channel 46 whereby in that position side wall 128 is closely received against leg 42 of the receiving flange and side wall 126 is closely received against front wall portion 38. Thus a rigid mounting for the adaptor clip is provided. The entire box-shaped construction of adaptor clip 120 normally has a length generally corresponding to the length of the panel mounting gasket and construction panel to be associated with a particular framing member. In the preferred embodiment, the adaptor clip is an aluminum extrusion although it may be comprised of a relatively rigid elastomeric material or a suitable plastic material.

The clip, disposed as shown in FIG. 4, provides means for adapting receiving flange 40 to use with panel mounting gaskets and panels which are substantially larger in dimension than the receiving flange itself. Thus, panel mounting channel 92' of gasket 90' is received over the adaptor clip so that the side walls of the channel closely embrace side wall 1241 of the clip and leg 44 of the gasket receiving flange. The remainder of the installation using the adaptor clip concept is identical to that as hereinabove described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and it should be noted that the adaptor clip may include any side wall dimensions suffrcient to provide a mounting surface for any particular gasket dimension. The adaptor clip is readily employed with any of the structural members 10,12,1 0 and 16 and eliminates the need for stocking structural members having receiving flanges with enlarged gasket receiving flanges.

A second embodiment of the vertical structural mullion member 16 or horizontal structural mullion member 14 is shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, use is made of a different type of elastomeric panel mounting gasket. The structural member is comprised of two interfitting U-shaped channels 140,142. Channel 140 includes a bottom wall 144 and side walls 146,148 extending outwardly from the lateral edges thereof and channel 142 includes a bottom wall 150 and side walls 152,154 extending outwardly from the lateral edges thereof. Side walls 152,154 and 160,162 are dimensioned on their respective bottom walls so as to permit an interfitting relationship between the two channels. Side wall 152 further includes an inwardly extending interfitting portion 156 to provide the desired relationship with leg 146 of the mating channel. U-shaped channel 140 also includes a panel mounting gasket spline receiver channel adjacent side wall 148 generally designated 158. This spline receiver channel is comprised of a pair of side walls 160,162 which may include inwardly extending protrusions 164 therealong to cooperate with a panel mounting gasket mounting spline.

In using the embodiment of the vertical structural mullion member shown in FIG. 5, a variation of the H- type panel mounting and sealing gasket is employed. That is, the panel mounting gasket 170 shown therein includes a pair of opposed outwardly opening panel receiving channels 174,176 and an elongated spline portion 178 for mounting the gasket in a desired position. Spline 178 may include a plurality of outwardly extending protrusions longitudinally therealong to coact with the spline receiving channel in retaining the gasket in the desired position. With this type of gasket mounting, spline 178 and therefore spline receiving channel 158 may remain of the same dimensions even though the width of panel receiving channels 174,176 may be varied to accommodate various thicknesses of panels 18. One advantage realized in utilizing the embodiment shown and described with reference to FIG. is that only one elongated panel mounting gasket is required to mount the adjacent edges of two generally coplanar panels 18. The installation of this second embodiment in a panel framing system is identical with that as described above with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Another embodiment of a structural jamb member 12 employable for a specific purpose is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. It may be desired to mount a window frame immediately adjacent a door 190 having a jamb 192. For purposes of convenience only, a single bay C is shown in FIG. 6 which includes structural sill members 10, structural jamb members 12 and a horizontal structural mullion member 14. With reference to FIG. 7, jamb 192 comprises a generally U-shaped extruded member having a bottom wall 194 and side walls 196,198 extending outwardly from the lateral edges thereof. Side walls 196,198 include bevels 200,202 extending therealong at the outermost edges thereof. In this embodiment, the structural sill member adjacent door jamb 192 comprises a single wall portion 210 having beveled edges 212,214 adapted to be closely received in a mating relationship with bevels 200,202 respectively. Disposed adjacent one end of wall 210 is an outwardly extending resilient leg 216 and disposed adjacent the other end of wall 210 is an outwardly extending resilient leg 218. These legs are dimensioned so as to exert a gripping force against side walls 196,198 when the sill member is positioned relative to the door jamb. Wall 210 also includes a downwardly extending supporting leg 220 and a parallel supporting leg 222 affixed to leg 220 which closely embraces the inside of bottom wall 194 to provide rigidity to the structure. Wall 210 includes a receiving flange 40 extending outwardly therefrom as hereinabove previously described with reference to the structure shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The remainder of the bay structure remains identical to that as also hereinabove previously described and which is therefore not redescribed with reference to this embodiment. This particular alternative embodiment may also be employed in other areas besides a door jamb where it is desired to mount a panel framing system immediately adjacent another building component. As with the others, this particular structural jamb member may also be continuously extruded from aluminum or any other suitable material.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of this specification. It is my intention to include all such modifications and alterations insofar s they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I now claim:

1. An improved framing system for a building wall opening or the like wherein a plurality of elongated rigid structural elements are received about said opening to form an opening frame and panel mounting gaskets including at least one continuous panel receiving channel therealong and means for mounting said gaskets to associated of said structural elements are disposed about said structural elements to receive thin -rigid construction panels in said panel receiving channels, the improvement comprising:

said elongated structural elements comprising hollow generally rectangular elements wherein one side of each said element forms an element mounting surface for engagement with said opening, said elements further including means for receiving one of said elastomeric panel mounting gasket members longitudinally therealong on another side thereof.

2. The improved framing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a continuous longitudinally extending gasket mounting groove and said receiving means comprises an outwardly extending gasket receiving flange defined by a pair of parallel upstanding walls including an open slot therebetween, said upstanding walls being spaced apart from each other so as to be closely received against the walls of said gasket mounting groove.

3. The improved framing system as defined in claim 2 further including an adaptor clip having a first portion including means for engaging one of said mounting flanges and a second portion having means for receiving a panel mounting gasket having an enlarged gasket mounting groove.

4. The improved framing system as defined in claim 3 wherein said first portion includes means for engaging the inner and outer surfaces of one of said upstanding walls.

5. The improved framing system as defined in claim 3 wherein said adaptor clip comprises an elongated body portion defined by at least three wall portions, one of said wall portions comprising said first portion and adapted to be received in said open slot, another of said wall portions comprising said second portion and adapted to be closely received in said enlarged gasket mounting groove and the other of said wall portions adapted to abut said structural element adjacent said one of said mounting flanges.

6. The improved framing system as defined in claim 2 wherein said gasket receiving flanges are disposed on the opposite sides of said elements from said element mounting surfaces, said gasket receiving flanges defining in combination a panel mounting plane about said opening.

7. The improved framing system as defined in claim 6 wherein said opposite sides each include an access opening extending longitudinally therealong for permitting access to the inside of said elements, said system further including means for selectively covering said access openings:

8. The improved framing system as defined in claim 1 further including structural divider elements for selectively generally transversely dividing said opening into a plurality of smaller openings, said structural divider elements each including means for receiving at least one panel mounting mullion gasket therealong for mounting the adjacent edges of two coplanar panels in a desired position relative to said opening.

9. The improved framing system as defined in claim 8 wherein each said structural divider element is generally rectangular in cross sectional configuration and is comprised of two interfitting generally U-shaped channels each having a bottom wall and spaced apart upstanding side walls, said channels being disposed such that the side walls of each channel extend toward the bottom wall of the associated channel.

10. The improved framing system as defined in claim 9 wherein said mullion gasket receiving means comprises a longitudinally extending spline receiving channel in each said divider element, said receiving means adapted to cooperate with a spline on said mullion gasket in retaining said mullion gasket in a desired position.

11. The improved framing system as defined in claim 2 wherein said spline receiving channel is disposed along one side wall of one of said channel elements to open outwardly therefrom.

12. The improved framing system as defined in claim 9 wherein said mullion gasket receiving means comprises mullion gasket receiving flanges extending outwardly from and longitudinally along the bottom wall of each said channel opposite to the extension of the associated side walls, said receiving means adapted to cooperate with means for mounting on said mullion gasket in retaining said mullion gasket in a desired position.

13. The improved framing system as defined in claim 12 wherein said mullion gasket mounting means comprises a longitudinally extending continuous mullion gasket mounting groove, said mullion gasket receiving flanges each having a pair of parallel upstanding walls including an open slot therebetween, said upstanding walls being spaced apart from each other so as to be closely received against the walls of said mullion gasket mounting groove.

14. The system as defined in claim 12 further including an adaptor clip having a first portion including means for engaging one of said mullion gasket mounting flanges and a second portion having means for receiving a mullion gasket having an enlarged gasket mounting groove.

15. The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said first portion includes means for engaging the inner and outer surfaces of one of said upstanding walls of said one of said mullion gasket mounting flanges.

16. The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said adaptor clip comprises an elongated body portion defined by at least three wall portions, one of said wall portions comprising said first portion and adapted to be received in said open slot, another of said wall portions comprising said second portion and adapted to be received in said enlarged mullion gasket mounting groove and the other of said wall portions adapted to abut said structural divider element adjacent said one mullion gasket mounting flange. 

1. An improved framing system for a building wall opening or the like wherein a plurality of elongated rigid structural elements are received about said opening to form an opening frame and panel mounting gaskets including at least one continuous panel receiving channel therealong and means for mounting said gaskets to associated of said structural elements are disposed about said structural elements to receive thin rigid construction panels in said panel receiving channels, the improvement comprising: said elongated structural elements comprising hollow generally rectangular elements wherein one side of each said element forms an element mounting surface for engagement with said opening, said elements further including means for receiving one of said elastomeric panel mounting gasket members longitudinally therealong on another side thereof.
 2. The improved framing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a continuous longitudinally extending gasket mounting groove and said receiving means comprises an outwardly extending gasket receiving flange defined by a pair of parallel upstanding walls including an open slot therebetween, said upstanding walls being spaced apart from each other so as to be closely received against the walls of said gasket mounting groove.
 3. The improved framing system as defined in claim 2 further including an adaptor clip having a first portion including means for engaging one of said mounting flanges and a second portion having means for receiving a panel mounting gasket having an enlarged gasket mounting groove.
 4. The improved framing system as defined in claim 3 wherein said first portion includes means for engaging the inner and outer surfaces of one of said upstanding walls.
 5. The improved framing system as defined in claim 3 wherein said adaptor clip comprises an elongated body portion defined by at least three wall portions, one of said wall portions comprising said first portion and adapted to be received in said open slot, another of said wall portions comprising said second portion and adapted to be closely received in said enlarged gasket mounting groove and the other of said wall portions adapted to abut said structural element adjacent said one of said mounting flanges.
 6. The improved framing system as defined in claim 2 wherein said gasket receiving flanges are disposed on the opposite sides of said elements from said element mounting surfaces, said gasket receiving flanges defining in combination a panel mounting plane about said opening.
 7. The improved framing system as defined in claim 6 wherein said opposite sides each include an access opening extending longitudinally therealong for permitting access to the inside of said elements, said system further including means for selectively covering said access openings:
 8. The improved framing system as defined in claim 1 further including structural divider elements for selectively generally transversely dividing said opening into a plurality of smaller openings, said structural divider elements each including means for receiving at least one panel mounting mullion gasket therealong for mounting the adjacent edges of two coplanar panels in a desired position relative to said opening.
 9. The improved framing system as defined in claim 8 wherein each said structural divider element is generally rectangular in cross sectional configuration and is comprised of two interfitting generally U-shaped channels each having a bottom wall and spaced apart upstanding side walls, said channels being disposed such that the side walls of each channel extend toward the bottom wall of the associated channel.
 10. The improved framing system as defined in claim 9 wherein said mullion gasket receiving means comprises a longitudinally extending spline receiving channel in each said divider element, said receiving means adapted to cooperate with a spline on said mullion gasket in retaining said mullion gasket in a desired position.
 11. The improved framing system as defined in claim 2 wherein said spline receiving channel is disposed along one side wall of one of said channel elements to open outwardly therefrom.
 12. The improved framing system as defined in claim 9 wherein said mullion gasket receiving means comprises mullion gasket receiving flanges extending outwardly from and longitudinally along the bottom wall of each said channel opposite to the extension of the associated side walls, said receiving means adapted to cooperate with means for mounting on said mullion gasket in retaining said mullion gasket in a desired position.
 13. The improVed framing system as defined in claim 12 wherein said mullion gasket mounting means comprises a longitudinally extending continuous mullion gasket mounting groove, said mullion gasket receiving flanges each having a pair of parallel upstanding walls including an open slot therebetween, said upstanding walls being spaced apart from each other so as to be closely received against the walls of said mullion gasket mounting groove.
 14. The system as defined in claim 12 further including an adaptor clip having a first portion including means for engaging one of said mullion gasket mounting flanges and a second portion having means for receiving a mullion gasket having an enlarged gasket mounting groove.
 15. The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said first portion includes means for engaging the inner and outer surfaces of one of said upstanding walls of said one of said mullion gasket mounting flanges.
 16. The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said adaptor clip comprises an elongated body portion defined by at least three wall portions, one of said wall portions comprising said first portion and adapted to be received in said open slot, another of said wall portions comprising said second portion and adapted to be received in said enlarged mullion gasket mounting groove and the other of said wall portions adapted to abut said structural divider element adjacent said one mullion gasket mounting flange. 